Things Are Not Exactly Right In Bullpen

LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 04: Charlie Furbush #49 of the Detroit Tigers pitches in the fifth inning during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 4, 2011 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Detroit's Charlie Furbush. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Detroit has four left-handers in its bullpen, and manager Jim Leyland thinks that’s not right.

“But it’s the old saying, if they’re the best guys you have, you take them,” Leyland said. “Right now, we felt that’s the best we have.”

The Tigers used three of their left-handers against the Cleveland Indians but to no avail in Detroit’s 6-4 loss, putting Charlie Furbush, Daniel Schlereth and David Purcey out there.

Detroit also had Adam Wilk available, and would have used him had the game gone long enough.

Oh, and they also have Brad Thomas, who pitched his first rehab inning for Toledo after going down because of a sore elbow May 11.

“Well, now I’ve got five lefties,” Leyland quipped.

When Thomas is ready to return, Detroit will have a decision to make, but that time is not yet.

Leyland acknowledges the club would only have three southpaws if Ryan Perry had not been sent to Toledo to work out some kinks.

As of now, though, the manager has no problems whenever he wants to go left on left.

But, the manager said: “There’s too many of them. You don’t need four, to be honest with you.